Tyler Perry Talks Church & Oprah,

The entertainment titan talks about his childhood, going to church and Oprah.

Tyler Perry’s onscreen characters are funny but—like the actor—anchored by a deep faith that better times are coming. That faith is rooted in the Christian upbringing of his childhood. His next wlm, Nobody’s Fool (Nov. 2), features breakout comedy star Tiffany Haddish and Perry favorite Tika Sumpter as sisters who learn that, despite their differences, they have a lot to offer each other. Perry, 49, talks to Parade about Sunday memories, building houses and how a role model became a friend.

What did you want to be when you grew up? An architect. I grew up in New Orleans, so the Georgian mansions and the Victorian mansions on St. Charles Avenue—they always fascinated me as a kid. Some of them looked like gingerbread houses. My father was a contractor. I’ve built probably seven homes since I was about 20, and I designed them all.

Who were your role models in the industry? Oprah Winfrey, hands down. I always had a familiar feeling with her, as if I knew her, or would know her. So it was strange to come into friendship after that.

Do you have favorite Sunday memories from growing up? Every Sunday morning, my mother took me to church. Seeing my uncle preaching up

there and looking like a king, and hearing the choir sing and gospel music blaring through the church, and it’s hot and people got those Martin Luther King fans, waving them back and forth, and sisters over in the corner shouting—every Sunday was a beautiful moment for me.

Was church a special part of your childhood? From my perception, it was the most amazing place in the world. I didn’t think there was anything better until I got out and started seeing other parts of the country, other parts of the world, and realizing that the worship experience is really, really powerful wherever you can wnd it.